Embassy encourages Australia-based Iranians to volunteer to help war effort

Tehran’s embassy in Canberra is promoting a recruitment drive for a paramilitary campaign to defend Iran from US forces, with the Australian federal police now looking into the matter.

As the war approaches the two-month mark, the embassy’s website and Telegram channel this week posted a message that instructed people on how to register for a voluntary drive to fight for their country, known as the “Janfada” – or “sacrificing life” – program.

The message, which was removed from the Telegram account and website after questions were sent to the embassy, has caused alarm among diaspora groups, with one calling for the embassy to be closed down and others raising the legality of such recruitment.

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A translation of the message, written in Farsi, reads: “Due to repeated requests from Iranians living abroad to participate in the ‘Janfida Campaign’, and due to difficulties accessing domestic websites, access has been made available through the MEKHAK [consular services] system for Iranians who wish to take part in this campaign.”

The message then provides instructions on how to register to “join the campaign” via the system, which is run by the country’s ministry of foreign affairs.

Dr Rana Dadpour, founder of advocacy group Australian United Solidarity for Iran (AusIran), said the embassy sharing the recruitment initiative in Australia was “unbelievable”.

Dadpour said the embassy – which had its ambassador expelled last year – should be closed.

Under Australian law, it is an offence to enter a foreign country intending to “engage in a hostile activity” unless serving in or with the armed forces of a foreign country’s government. It is also an offence to prepare to enter a foreign country intending to “engage in hostile activity.” Both offences carry a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.

It is also illegal to recruit a person to join the Iranian military or an organisation engaged in hostile activities.

The Australian federal police said they were aware of the posts.

“The AFP will provide an update at an appropriate time,” a spokesperson said.

Last November, the federal government listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism in response to allegations it had been directing attacks on Australian soil.